SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] Gaming Mouse Review

SteelSeries unleashed its Sensei in 2011; one year later, the revamped Sensei [RAW] joins its ever-growing gamer-oriented line. Join us as we see whether or not the newest model’s “less is more” approach is enough to merit its celebrated predecessor’s status as one of the acknowledged masters of the gaming mouse class.

Software

The Sensei [RAW], like all PC mice, works perfectly fine with Windows drivers. However, to take advantage of all of its features, you need to install the SteelSeries Engine software suite.

The download is a mere 36.8MB before installation, so any fears that this is useless bloatware should be allayed. After installation, you can tweak the Sensei [RAW] to your heart’s content.

Engine is divided into four main parts: Button; Settings; Properties; and Statistics. The Button section is like a blueprint, in that it shows you where each button is located. This section also allows you to configure what each button does. If you want a single button to execute a macro or start an application with a single button click, this is where the magic happens. If you want to disable any of the mouse’s buttons for whatever reason, this is where you do it. Finally, if you’re a southpaw and you want your [RAW] to go to left-hand mode, where the left side buttons’ functions are switched over to the right side buttons, it’s all just a click away in this section.

Settings is where the mouse’s sensitivity (measured by SteelSeries in Counts per Inch, analogous to Dots per Inch on other manufacturers’ mice) is configured. As you can see, there are two sliders; the LED Off slider is meant to designate the slower CPI setting, while the LED On slider designates the faster CPI setting. On the mouse itself, you can set the CPI to slow (LED off) or fast (LED on); the sliders configure specifically how slow or fast you want your cursor to move. The extreme degree of granularity of the mouse’s sensitivity adjustment is quite unlike other mice I’ve used in the past.

You can also set the mouse’s Polling Rate and Illumination on the Settings section. The Polling Rate goes in 125Hz steps, from a minimum of 125Hz to a maximum of 1000Hz. Illumination controls the mouse’s LEDs’ behavior. You can set the LEDs’ intensity (Off/Low/Medium/High) and “breathing” effect pulsation (Steady/Slow/Medium/Fast). Just for clarification, “Steady” means “on the whole time.”

The Properties section is where you can define user profiles. Unlike the original Sensei, these user profiles cannot be stored onboard the hardware. That means that you can’t just move your [RAW] to another PC, select your user profile, and start using it exactly the way you use it on the original PC. It’s a hardcore feature, I suppose, but in the real world most people aren’t hardcore (no matter their most elaborate delusions of grandeur). The [RAW], though, allows you to save as many user profiles as you wish. In fact, through Engine, you can theoretically set up a unique user profile tied to specific applications. So, say, you want your Sensei [RAW] to behave in a specific way for Crysis 2 and have it set completely different for Battlefield 3, the Properties section of the Engine software is where it’s done.

Statistics is probably the most superfluous section of Engine. Basically it’s a click-counter. If for whatever reason you want to log how many times you use a particular button (say you’re trying to figure out which buttons would be used the most, in which case you might want to assign your most critical functions to them for maximum efficiency), you can track your click stats in the Statistics section.

Engine is a very intuitive piece of software. Even without the benefit of reading a user’s manual on it, you can figure out how to use it and get the best out of your mouse.

Anyone knows if you can disable the CPI switch? I happen to accidentally hit it several times per day. :/

http://www.facebook.com/deathspawner Rob Williams

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like you’re able to do that. I’m using the same mouse and can’t find the option to do that anywhere in the software. I hit it on rare occasion by accident, but not every day!

http://www.facebook.com/geerhard.metdenancxt Geerhard Met Den Ancxt

Just set the same CPI settings so the dpi won’t change when you hit the button.

http://www.facebook.com/deathspawner Rob Williams

Good advice, but ineffective if you happen to (sometimes) want to take advantage of it.

Derpanese

Also not a solution when hitting the CPI acts as a wheel click in the browser, which then brings up the omnidirectional scroll thingie.

Rahul

I’ve read that 1 profile can be stored on the RAW…:/ but here you say that we cant..:/..this sucks totally..:/

JD Kane

Hi Rahul,

From SteelSeries itself, on the Sensei [RAW]: “SteelSeries Sensei [RAW] did away with processor, the LCD menu system and the on-board memory.”

So, yup, no capability to store profiles on the simpler [RAW] version of the Sensei.

Hope this helps.

Rahul

Thanks alot JD.
Yes it did help me :)

Tarun Bhatia

Bought from martnext.com should say gave me the best price and delivered in 2 days on COD basis, Thumbs Up
the best mouse in this class Cheers